Suction cleaner



May 28,1935. W.-LEATHERS l 2,002,637

SUCTION CLEANER sUcTIoN CLEANER f Filed July 14, l1915].

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The object of my invention is to produce, in conjunction with my other inventions in vthis art represented by, co-pending patent applications Nos. 472,703-4'14584-476334--471831- 477,832 481.401 488.793-488,'l94489.281 491,415 492,424 493,068--50L8'I3-50L874- so1,a'155o1,sv6-so1,a77 563,507 563,508, s lightweight vacuum broom for doing the work of the kitchen broom, the carpet sweeper, Yand the dry mop onv smooth i'ioors, or for surface pick-up over rugs and carpets. Y In order to accomplish this Purpose more eili-- ciently the broom portion of the cleaner requires a highly specialized structure and I have invent- A` ed means of producing such satisfactory and operable mechanism of a highly Viexible` sort, the construction of which is set forth in this specification. i

In order that a lightweight, surface cleaner for 0i these purposes should be most adaptable and practical in the hands of the operator, I have found the need for mounting the brush and suction nozzle ilexibiy with rpect to a handlesupported motor-suctlon-niter-unit, in other words with respect to the bodyfportion of the cleaner. This I have accomplished by means of carrying a removable brush or broom in a stifftransverse support Joining the same to the motorsuction unit by flexible spring-like means. and surrounding the whole with a flexible housing.

In order to set forth my-invention so that all those familiar with these arts may understand I have prepared the following specicatin to which I have appended drawings of which- Figure I is a partially sectioned front `elevation of the broom and housing assembly complete.

Figure II is a vertical cross-section taken near the end of the nozzle.

'FigureIII is a vertical cross-section at the cen- 4to? tel 0f the Home.

" IV is a cross-section at the` point of Figure Vis a partially cross-sectioned. i'xont y elevation of broom and housing, somewhat modi-A 'i'ed.

. Figure VI is a longitudinal cross-section of thesame.

InFigureLabrushorbroomback I supports bristles 2 of suitable length. This brush or broom 504s supported inachannelt and held,fromfalling out, by Permitting the'brush back l In extend into the recess 4 in the flexible rubber housing l. Al liplinfthis housing holds the broom back I perputting the removal of the broom by pulling back 55;' the rubber portion 'I with the nnger. 3 is sh0wn as a stamped part in which outwardly extending louvers' as at i are provided on both sides. L ugs of rubber as at l are provided in the side walls of theV housing I to iit between the louvers l. A

60 ltubular neck Il on the housing lis Joined in 12 ciau.. (ci. 11i-iss) operable manner to the suction inlet (see Figures III. IV'and -VI)'. .Suitable motor-suction-v-units ing applicationsabo've referred to.

Figure l1 shows -a cross-section of the broom mechanism taken at the dotted line AA. The metal supporting member 3 has ends enclosed at the `outside ends of brush 2, said ends joined in any suitable manner-as by a rivet `II and tucked away in cavities in the housing '5, at 4.' Side wings of the part,` 2 are turned about the rubber beads in the housing 5 at I2. 'Ihese wings ex` tend substantially theentire length of the hous ing. The louvers 8 are so pressed outward from the center that they permit the inflow of air atv the bottom where the metal makes a continuous straight edge at? I2. The sidewise movement of the bristles in use thereby Vsubstiaintially closes the inlet ports on the rearward side of the broom automatically as it is pushed to and fro.

Figure III shows a cross-section of 'the broom and housing mechanism taken longitudinally at the center thereof. Here it will be clearly noted that the flexible housing III need provide no support for the broom except a latch against its own weight at 6, since the broom channel 3 is supported from the motor-suction-housing Il by a Y spring Il suitably attached at both ends. In the drawings I5 is shown riveted to 3 and held in side slots in the casting Il.

Figure IV more clearly shows the juncture between the iiexible rubber housing. 5, the motorsuctlon-housing Il, and the spring I5. A set screw It keeps the brush unit from falling out.

Figures V and VI illustrate essentially the same mechanism except for an important modincati'on consisting of the adaptation of a diecasting 2I to these same functions, instead of a stamped sheet metal part. The die-casting make a structure that will stand much rougher use since it is unbendable. The broom I and 2 is supported in a slot in the die-casting in a manner similar to that described in Figure I. The openings operated by the louvers 8 are replaced byports I1, shown plain on the inside and inclined at the upper edge on the outside and housings are fully described in the co-pend 1 vof the casting as at Il. 'Ihe air'passages between the rubber andthe casting are maintained by wings Il on the die-casting. Lugs 2l on the top ofthe die-casting 2| aid in holding the' spring rigidly supported therebetween as by rivetirig. The casting 2i projects sidewise at the bottom at 22 furnishing metallic contact with the floor rather than rubber, and furnishing support for the beads on the rubber housing I. The rubber housing is Vheld in place on the ends by lips] which project inwardly under the casting 2| and project a further suiiicient distance'to engage the ends of the brush, keeping the same au from falling out, and providing means for manuadapted to il'ex coniormably with the vsupporting ally removing said brush.

Having set forth my invention in terms which all those familiar with'thesearts can understand, I wish it understood that many changes in design and detail may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion; and a mouth piece flexibly communicating therewith; the body-portion being off the iioor and the mouth-piece on the oor when the cleaner is in use; and a strip of springy material supporting the body-portion from the mouthpiece and disposed to permit a fore and aft yielding between said parts.

2. In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion; and a mouth-piece exibly communieating therewith; the body-portion being off the oor and the mouth-piece on the floor when the cleaner is in use; and a permanently bent strip of springy material supporting the body-portion from the mouth piece and disposed with the convex face of said bent strip facing toward the front of the cleaner.

- 3. In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion and an elongated transversely-extending mouth-piece iiexibly communicating therewith, the former being oi the oor and the latter on the floor when the cleaner is in use; and a strip of springy material connecting the middle part of the mouth-piece with thebody portion which latter it supports. y u

4In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion; and a mouth-piece;` the former being off the floor and the latter on the iloor when the cleaner is in use; a strip of springy material supporting the body-portion fromv the mouthpiece and disposed to permit a fore and aft yielding between said parts; and a housing made-of soft, yielding substantially air-tight material forming a housing for the mouth-piece and the supporting-strip and also -serving to connect pneumatically the mouth piece and the bodyportion of the cleaner, whereby the housing is adapted to iiex coniormably with the supporting` strip.

5. In combination, a suction-cleaner body-portion; and a mouth-piece; the former being of! the iioor and the latter on the door when the cleaner is in use; a permanently bent strip of springy material supporting the body-portion from the mouth piece and disposed with the con- -vex face of said bent strip facing toward the front of the cleaner; and a. housing made ci soft, yielding substantially air-tight material forming a housing for the mouth-piece and the supporting-strip and also serving to connect pneumatically the mouth piece and the bodyportion ofk the cleaner, whereby the housing is adapted to flex conformably with the supporting strip.

6. In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion and an elongated transversely-extending mouth-piece, the former being oiI the floor and the latter on the oor when the cleaner is in use; a strip of springy material connecting the middle part of the mouth-piece with the body portion which latter it supports; and-a housing made oi.' soft, yielding substantially air-tight material forming a. housing for the mouth-piece and the\ supporting-strip and also serving to connect penumatically the mouthpiece and the bodyl portion oi the cleaner, whereby the housing is tion of thecleaner; and means which spaces the sides of the mouth-piece from the adjacent walls of the housing and provides for the free passage of the dirt-laden air as aforesaid.

8. A suction-cleaner comprising in combination an inflexible channeled mouth-piece; a housing of soft, flexible substantially air-tight material having a lower-end containing and permanently united to said inexible channeled mouth-piece; and a brush whose back is seated in the channel of the inflexible channeled mouth-piece with its bristles projecting from the mouth of the channel, the ends of said back projecting beyond the ends of the channel; the soft iiexible housing being adjacently recessed to receive said ends of the back of the brush and having lugs which underlie said ends for releasably supporting the brush in. the channeled mouth-piece.

- 9. In combination, a suction-cleaner body-portion; a brush holding mouth-piece comprising a channel-shaped member with brush seated in thechannel with its bristles projecting, therefrom; a housing oi soft exible substantially air-tight material pneumatically connected with the suction-cleaner body-portion and having an open lower end receiving into it the channeled mouthpiece which latter at its mouth has outwardly extending anges engaged with the housing, said channel being provided with openings for the dirt-laden air to pass into the flexible housing; and-means which supports the. body-portion of the cleaner from the mouth-piece.

10. In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion, a mouth-piece, and a hollow rubber housing operatively supporting the body-portion oiI the floor with the cleaner resting on the mouth-piece, and forming a twistable and a fore and ait yielding, exible, pneumatic connection between the mouth-piece and the body-portion.

1l. In combination, a suction-cleaner bodyportion, a mouth-piece, and a hollow rubber housingoperatively supporting the body-portion oil.' the iioor with the cleaner resting on the mouth-piece, and forming a twistable and a fore and aft yielding, flexible, pneumatic connection between the mouth-piece and the body-portion, and yielding metalmeans arranged also to support said 'body-portion yieldingly from :he mouth-piece.

12. In combination, a suction-cleaner body-` rubber housing.'V the other end ofsaid housing being telescopicalLv connected with the tubular intake oi' the body portion, and a strip of sprin'gy material located within the rubber housing with its lower end fastened to the mouthpiece and ,with its upper end lsoclzeted in the tubular intake ofv the body-portion for ready attachment and removal along with the rubber housing and the mouth-piece.

WARD IEATHERS. 

